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With Cortana, Microsoft is 'scroogled' in new Windows 10 spyware scare


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Microsoft’s Marcus Ash claims it’s not like that at all

 

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Cortana, Microsoft's assistant app in Windows 10, is getting even more nosey than before. We're told Redmond will scan your email, in order to remind you to keep your commitments.

Sounds benign -- helpful, even. But some are worrying that it's just one more privacy invasion from the Pacific Northwest.

 

Even though you can turn it off, it's on by default. And we've seen problems before with settings mysteriously reverting to defaults, right?

 

In IT Blogwatch, bloggers pay no attention to The Man behind the curtain.

 

Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment.

 

She may be snowed in, but Mary Jo Foley can still use Notepad. Here she is, with Microsoft to make email, calendar reminders smarter with Cortana:

No definitive commitment

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Cortana will be able to review and suggest new reminders based on emails that users send...using machine-learning techniques.

Cortana will proactively ask users if they want to set reminders for a task. ... Users can turn off this email scanning feature, a Microsoft spokesperson said.

There's no definitive commitment or timeline for bringing these features to other platforms where Cortana is supported.

 

Sounds spooky. But Tom Warren buffets the worries—Cortana now scans your emails to make sure you're keeping promises:

 

Android and iOS clients

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Starting today, Windows Insiders will get access to a new commitment option in Cortana for Windows 10.

It's designed to pick up on emails where you promise your boss to finish a particular project in time. ... If you send an email...with content like "I'll get back to you by next week"...then Cortana will...help you set a reminder.

The email scanning is completed locally so no data is sent to Microsoft's servers until you agree.

Android and iOS clients will also be updated in the future to support the new options.

 

OK, Google, beat that. Microsoft's Marcus Ash smolders—Cortana Gets Better at Helping You Manage Your Busy Schedule:

Just scratching the surface

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When we first set out to build Cortana, we knew we had to build an indispensable personal assistant.

Today, I’m excited to announce new features. ... People often make promises to do things in email but may forget about them as the days go by and emails pile up. ... Helping you to keep tabs on your commitments is just one of the ways Cortana will get more proactive.

This is just the start...as we continue to refine Cortana’s intelligence and add new capabilities. ... We know we’re just scratching the surface of how Cortana can help you be more productive.

 

Yeah, but this sounds like yet another Windows 10 privacy nightmare. Here's a slightly sarcastic poken1151:

I want to be violated

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I'd like to be conflicted about this. But Cortana's yet to pull anything from my mail consistently.

I want to be just as violated as OK Google users but she only half caresses me...while in my...pocket.

 

Well, it's easy to be cynical. So, with a gratuitous Clippy gag, here's Natasha Lomas—Microsoft’s Personal Assistant Tech, Cortana, Now Generates Reminders From Emails:

Scanning your email

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So if you’re the kind of person who’s so busy with work you forget to buy the cinema tickets to go on that date...then Cortana can now step in and help to save your marriage.

If you don’t like the idea of Cortana scanning your email — or of a robotic assistant popping up with...suggestions — you can at least turn it off.

 

Peccávi nimis: Cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne. Travis Pope offers Windows 10 Will Scan Your Email for Reminders Soon:

Scan email

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Those worried about their privacy aren’t likely to appreciate [this]. The operating system launched amongst a flurry of reports that Windows 10 was sharing details when explicitly asked not to.

This new feature works exactly the same as other features in Cortana that scan email correspondence for information. ... Cortana also looks for movie tickets and reservations.

 

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When my brother trevor got married I was scared to death about being in the wedding I thought I was going to make mistakes and did made one got embarrassed.  After the wedding was over I felt better I told my brother shawn that wasnt as horrible as I thought it would be.  My point is you cant make a assistant like this without giving certain access to it this is mainly how I feel there are tons of users that are not happy Im not saying I am Im not as unhappy my concerns are greater with the us government the nsa and various entities that are going to remain nameless (not doing anything illegal not doing something I shouldnt be I do want my privacy if I must give some of it up do make a product better thats fine).  You dont have to do what I do or do what I say Im knowledgeable and know what Im doing (with common sense added) I shouldnt have any problems.  Take from this what you want this is how I feel.

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30 minutes ago, Holmes said:

When my brother trevor got married I was scared to death about being in the wedding I thought I was going to make mistakes and did made one got embarrassed.  After the wedding was over I felt better I told my brother shawn that wasnt as horrible as I thought it would be.  My point is you cant make a assistant like this without giving certain access to it this is mainly how I feel there are tons of users that are not happy Im not saying I am Im not as unhappy my concerns are greater with the us government the nsa and various entities that are going to remain nameless (not doing anything illegal not doing something I shouldnt be I do want my privacy if I must give some of it up do make a product better thats fine).  You dont have to do what I do or do what I say Im knowledgeable and know what Im doing (with common sense added) I shouldnt have any problems.  Take from this what you want this is how I feel.

 

What?

People's issues with Microsoft is that they are forcing it on you with no opt out at the operating system level. There are probably quite a few people who value their privacy and they are not ding anything illegal, how do we know Microsoft isn't directly or indirectly stealing information from other businesses? They encrypt the data sent to them so anything could be in it, all they have to do is issue a windows update to someone (could even be targeted at a specific person) and use it to steal data and nobody would be the wiser.

Creating a normalcy of your data not being private creates all sort of security problems, it's one thing Google doing it on their webs apps, it's quite another when its a program on your local machine which has access to everything on your computer.

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Indeed, I disabled Whore-TANA via group policy so even when I click on the search ICON it won't let me turn on Cortana saying she has been disabled via company policy. Screw M/S, I used ultimate windows tweaker. Disable all telemetry and sharing. None of their fking business.

 

 

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Slowly but surely, bit by bit MS is gonna keep chipping away until they finally piss people en mass.

Even heard rumors of bringing ads to windows...that'll be the flash point I'm sure.

 

Windows 10 doesn't offer anything I want that 7 doesn't...I'll pass.

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I still think the government is in bed with Microsoft on this.  Honestly, would anyone be surprised?

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15 minutes ago, JessicaLeigh said:

I still think the government is in bed with Microsoft on this.  Honestly, would anyone be surprised?

They were first in PRISM, in fact from what I read they seemed proud to be the first.

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I was mostly talking about cortana not about windows ten in general.  As for windows ten and gwx and windows updates bullsh*T I agree.

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I'm not a fan of Microsoft but i don't hate them ether. The funny thing is because Microsoft does most things sooner than others they'll get a lot of blame and hate from the users. but the users don't pay attention to something and that is all the Operating systems, whether on phones ,tablets or computers, they'll will add these features sooner or later. soon Siri or google will add this as a way of making accessibility easier and faster trust me. deep down they all serve one thing.

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On undefined at 8:57 PM, JessicaLeigh said:

I still think the government is in bed with Microsoft on this.  Honestly, would anyone be surprised?

You think its bad now while  its free  wait tell  it becomes not free and if people who  got Win 10 free and need a new processor  and people who bought newer processors  will be forced to buy it or ether use and old  processor with windows 7 or 8.1  . There going force people to buy it.


 

Quote

 

July 17th, 2017 is at the heart of perhaps Microsoft’s most disingenuous attempt yet to force users onto Windows 10.

 

But July 17th, 2017 is the killer. This is the last possible date Microsoft will allow Windows 7 or Windows 8 to be used on a cutting edge computer and still receive essential support like security patches. If this sounds a bit odd that’s understandable because Windows 7 and Windows 8 were meant to be supported until 14 January 2020 and 10 January 2023 respectively. But under the new rules that only applies if your hardware stays in the dark ages.

 

Right now these rules are being forced on businesses only, but there seems no reason it won’t be expanded to consumers. Microsoft isn’t fooling anyone, even traditional allies are angry. But the real fear for Windows 10 owners is not that this date hurts Windows 7, which is on 55% of computers worldwide, but what it says about Windows 8 and its 10% market share…

 

Windows 8 Is Windows 10

This is actually a near literal statement. The dark secret of Windows 10 is it is built around the core of three year old, uncool Windows 8. Windows 7 has a similar dark secret, it is built around the core of the 10 year old and truly reviled Windows Vista. They’re good OSes built from poor ones.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/01/27/when-free-windows-10-becomes-expensive-fear-this/#a617a8c538d8

 

 

Home users may want to  think about learning something besides Windows.. if they dont like Windows 10 :) 

 

There's a big long list of pcs  from all makers and its growing every day that will only support  Windows 10 after July 17th, 2017

 

All Windows 10  is  Windows 8 with extra spyware  built in and a start menu .

 

That's why I just have windows 8.1 with Classic Shell start menu  Windows 10 minus  the spyware . :P

 

Microsoft has not created  and original O/S  that done good since 2001  Windows XP . Windows 7 and Windows 10  are just improved versions of O/S ('s) that done  bad.

 

Windows 10 would not be that bad if it respected  you're privacy sooner or latter it most likely will become stable  like older ones did.

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On 1/27/2016 at 1:06 AM, Unreal Man said:

I'm not a fan of Microsoft but i don't hate them ether. The funny thing is because Microsoft does most things sooner than others they'll get a lot of blame and hate from the users. but the users don't pay attention to something and that is all the Operating systems, whether on phones ,tablets or computers, they'll will add these features sooner or later. soon Siri or google will add this as a way of making accessibility easier and faster trust me. deep down they all serve one thing.

I don't hate Microsoft, either.  But money talks in this world, and I was just commenting, not ranting.  :)

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On 1/30/2016 at 7:12 PM, JessicaLeigh said:

I don't hate Microsoft, either.  But money talks in this world, and I was just commenting, not ranting.  :)

you are totally right. Money really talks in this world no matter which company it is. Google , Apple , Microsoft all of them

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